Broken wire detector



May'30, 1944. s. FEDERICO BROKEN WIRE DETECTOR Filed Feb. 10, 1943 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 54L m'ro E FEDERICO,

BY %2;:TOR

May 30,1944. D R 2,349,855

BROKEN WIRE DETECTOR Filed Feb. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FILE- lINVEN'IJOR:

.. 54L I/AZiEZHFEDER 1609 ATIOR Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFlCE 2,349,855 BROKEN wma DETECTOR Salvatore Federico, WestHaven, Conn.

Application February 10, 1943, Serial No. 475,465

Claims.

This invention relates to a broken wire detector for stranding or ropelaying machines.

' In these machines a plurality of wires or strands are drawn fromspools carried by a rotor through a closing die. When one of the wiresor strands is broken or when there is a spool run out, the rotor must bestopped. Various types of detectors are now used for automaticallystopping the rotor when the wire breaks, but they often fail tofunction.

It is an object of this invention to provide automatic means forshutting down the strander which will be very sensitive to any impulsereceived from a wire end.

This and other objects willbe more apparent after referring to theattached drawings in which Flgure'l shows the powered and of the machinewith the control in diagram form; and

Figure 1" shows in section the opposite end,

- where the strand or rope is formed.

More specifically referring to the drawings, the machine includes arotor I turned by a motor 2 and carrying spools of wire 3 journaled incradles 4 supported on trunnions 5, the spools 2 remaining in verticalplanes while the rotor I rotates. The spools 3 carry wire W which feedsover sheaves 6 longitudinally of the machine to a series of finalsheaves I circumferentially mounted inside the rotor I in spacedrelationship.

Upon leaving the sheaves I, the wire from the various spools mutuallyapproach a twister head 8 from which they pass through a closing die 9to a power capstan III. This capstan III pulls the wire, now in the formof a strand of intertwisted wires, from the die 9. This tensions thewire back to each of the various spools 3 which the rotor I is providedwith a brake I2 of the type held released against spring tension by asolenoid I3, this solenoid being energized by the lines II. Therefore,when the motor 2 is deenergized, the solenoid I3 is also deenergized,this causing application of the brake l2 and consequent stopping of therotor l A magnetically tripped switch I4 is arranged with its contactsIS in circuit with the line II, this switch having a solenoid I6 foreffecting tripping and consequent opening of its contacts I. When thisoccurs, the circuit through the lines II is interrupted so that themotor 2 is deenergized. This also deenergizes the brake solenoid I3 soas to apply the brake I2 to stop the rotor I.

Energization of the solenoid I8 of the switch I4 is effected by acircuit controlled by a low voltage relay Il having contacts it throughwhich the solenoid I6 of the switch I4 is energized. The relay IT has asolenoid IQ for closing its contacts I8, and this solenoid I9 isenergized through lines 20 powered by the low voltage side of atransformer 2i having its high voltage side powered by the lin II. Oneof the lines 20 is grounded to the rotor I, as at 22, the other lineconnecting with a broken wire detector cable 23 which is supportedadjacent the rotor on insulators 24 connected to bearings 25 and 26. Athird bearing 21 is provided between the bearings 25 and 26.

In case a wire breaks or there is a spool run out, the end of the wireflies out through an opening 28 in the rotor I, striking the broken wiredetector cable 23, causing it to vibrate and grounding it on the bearing21 and, hence, closing the circuit through the lines 20. This energizesthe solenoid I9 which closes the contacts I IQ of the relay II, thesolenoid l6 then being energized so as to trip open the contacts l5 ofthe magnetically tripped switch I4. As a consequence of this action, thelines II will deenergize, this deenergizing the motor 2 and the brakesolenoid I3, whereby the brake l2 functions to immediately stop therotor I. At the same time. the transformer 2i is deenergized, thismeaning that the entire machine is electrically dead. When the troubleis remedied, the magnetically tripped switch I is reset and operation ofthe machine resumed through the medium of the usual controller workingthrough the lines IL While one embodiment of the invention has beenshown and described, it will be apparent that other modifications may bemade without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

Iclaim:

1. A stranding or r'ope laying machine including the combination of arotor, means for rotating said rotor, a circuit for powering saidrotating means, means mounted by said rotor for feeding lengths ofmaterial from said rotor, a control circuit, a detector in said controlcircuit mounted adjacent said rotor, and a stationary element in saidcontrol circuit mounted adjacent said detector, said circuit normallybeing open between said detector and stationary element, said detectorbeing adapted to vibrate sufliciently to contact said stationary elementto close said control circuit when struck by a loose end of saidmaterial and thereby open said power circuit to stop the rota on of saidrotor.

2. A stranding or rope laying machine including the combination 01 arotor, means for rotating said rotor, a brake for said rotor, a circuit,

for powering said rotating means and releasing said brake, means mountedby said rotor for feeding lengths of material from said rotor, a controlcircuit, a detector in said control circuit mounted adiacent said rotor,and a stationary element in said control circuit mounted adjacent saiddetector, said circuit normally being open between said detector andstationary element, saididetector being adapted to vibrate sumciently tocontact said stationary element to close said control circuit whenstruck by a loose end of said material and thereby open said powercircuit to stop the rotation of said rotor.

3. A stranding or rope laying machine including the combination of arotor, means for rotating said rotor, a brake for said rotor, a circuitfor powering said rotating means and releasin said brake, means mountedby said rotor for feeding lengths oi. material from said rotor, saidrotor having at least one opening therein, a control circuit, a detectorin said control circuit mounted adjacent said rotor, and a stationaryelement insaid control circuit mounted adjacent said detector, saidcircuit normally being open between said detector and stationaryelement, said detector being adapted toyibrate suillciently to contactsaid stationary element to "close said control circuit when struck by aloose end of said material flying through said opening and thereby opensaid power circuit to stop the rotation of said rotor. 4. A stranding orrope laying machine includassasse 1 ing the combination of a rotor,means for rotat- I ing said rotor, an electric circuit for powering saidmeans, a. relay for deenergizing said circuit, means mounted by saidrotor for feeding wire under tension, a control circuit, a detector insaid control circuit mounted adjacent said rotor, and a stationaryelement in said control circuit mounted adiacent said detector, saidcircuit normally being open between said detector and stationaryelement, said rotor having at least one opening therein, said cablebeing adapted to vibrate sufiiciently to contact said stationary elementto close said control circuit when struck by a loose end of said wireflying through said opening and thereby operating said relay todeenergize said circuit to stop said motor.

5. A stranding or rope laying machine including the combination of arotor, means for rotating said rotor, a brake for said rotor, anelectric circuit for powering said motor and releasing said brake, arelay for deenergizing said circuit, a spool mounted by said rotor forfeeding wire under tension, a control circuit, a detector in saidcontrol circuit mounted adjacent said rotor, and a stationary element insaid control circuit mounted adjacent said detector, said circuitnormally being open between said detector and stationary element, saidrotor having at least one opening therein, said cable being adapted tovibrate sufliciently to contact said stationary element to close saidcontrol circuit when struck by a loose end of said wire flying throughsaid opening and thereby operating said relay to deenergize said circuitto stop said motor and apply said brake. v

SALVATORE FEDERICO.

